After starting off the season with five losses in six games, the Ottawa Senators are now one of the hottest teams in the league, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on home ice on Sunday for their sixth straight victory.
The Leafs' loss is their first in almost a week and their first of the season against a fellow Canadian team. Sunday's regulation loss was the third of the season for Toronto, with all three coming on the road to drop their record to 2-3-0 away from the Air Canada Centre.
Toronto's penalty kill was a factor in their loss to the Sens as the Blue and White gave up two power play goals against. The Leafs' penalty kill, which was ranked 27th overall in the league coming into the game, has allowed 13 goals in 11 games. Only the Sens have given up more power play goals against, with 16 this season.
The Leafs did however start off the game playing well on the power play, scoring their third goal on the man advantage in two games.
With Erik Karlsson in the penalty box for slashing, Nikolai Kulemin centred the puck for Clarke MacArthur who then snapped it home for his third goal of the season in as many games. Kulemin's assist was his second of the year, while Mikhail Grabovski was also given an assist, collecting his third of the season.
Ottawa's league best power play showed off it's skill to tie up the game at one. A great stretch pass from rookie defenceman David Rundblad to Colin Greening sprung the Newfoundland native in on a breakaway.
Greening roofed the puck over Jonas Gustavsson while in all alone for his fourth of the season. Rundblad's assist was his third of the campaign, with the secondary helper going to Filip Kuba, giving him four this season.
The Leafs' penalty kill continued to suffer in the second period as Chris Neil converted on the man advantage to give the Sens the lead.
With Kulemin serving a questionable interference call, Erik Karlsson wired a shot from the point which was redirected by Neil who was left largely unchallenged in front of the Toronto net.
Neil's goal was his third of the season and eighth of his career against the Leafs. The gritty 32-year old has scored more goals against the Leafs than any other team. He has seven goals against the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals.
Ottawa extended their lead to two with an even strength goal from Kaspars Daugavins at the 7:08 mark of the third period.
Daugavins put a soft shot on net from just inside the blue line which Gustavsson should have been able to make the save on, but did not. The goal was the first of Daugavins' career, with the lone assist going to Zack Smith.
Toronto answered back just under two minutes later to trim the Sens' lead to 3-2 thanks to the second goal of the game from MacArthur.
Off the initial shot by his linemate Grabovski, there on the doorstep was MacArthur to put home the rebound for his second of the night and fourth goal in three games. Both of MacArthur's linemates, Grabovski and Kulemin, earned their second assists of the night on the play.
Despite pulling Gustavsson from the net for the extra attacker and a late-game push, the Leafs were unable to score the equalizer. The Monster allowed three goals on 30 shots to suffer his third loss of the season. Gustavsson has only one career victory in Ottawa, earning a win two seasons ago on Mar. 16, 2010.
Robin Lehner meanwhile made 23 saves in the Ottawa goal to pick up his first win of the season after being recalled on an emergency basis from the Binghamton Senators. The victory on Sunday also marked his first career win against the Leafs.
Sunday's game marked just the second time this season that Phil Kessel was held without a point in a game, snapping the 24-year old's four-game point streak. Despite not getting a point, Kessel led the team in shots (4) and all forwards in ice-time (22:01).
The Leafs finish the month of October at the top of the Northeast Division standings with a 7-3-1 record. Last the season, the Leafs were 5-4-1 at the end of the first month of the season.
Toronto will have several days to regroup as they are back in action on Wednesday for the second game of a three-game road trip when they travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils.
Leafs vs. Senators Stats Recap
Shots
TOR: 25
OTT: 30
Shot Leaders
TOR: Phil Kessel (4)
OTT: Michalek, Spezza and Winchester tied (4)
Power Play
TOR: 1/6
OTT: 2/4
Blocked Shots
TOR: 18
OTT: 19
Blocked Shot Leaders
TOR: Jake Gardiner and Dion Phaneuf tied (4)
OTT: Phillips, Rundblad and Smith tied (3)
Hits
TOR: 20
OTT: 21
Hits Leaders
TOR: Mike Komisarek (4)
OTT: Colin Greening (5)
Face-Off Leaders -Min. 10 opportunities
TOR: David Steckel - 6/14 (46%)
OTT: Zack Smith - 10/12 (83%)
Time on Ice
TOR: Dion Phaneuf (29:18)
OTT: Erik Karlsson (24:16)
Three Stars
1) Erik Karlsson - OTT (0G, 1A)
2) Zack Smith - OTT (0G, 1A)
3) Clarke MacArthur - TOR (2G, 0A)
Game Highlights
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